Since this whole tragedy started, I've been saying "God I wish I was rich, I'd ship truckloads of food and water to Louisiana and Mississippi", or "If I had a big house I'd take in a family".

I spent ten years as a volunteer with the Red Cross Disaster Relief Services, our state OES and FEMA. I've responded to disasters in the past but due to my health I had to stop, so now I feel so helpless.

I just left the Red Cross website where I donated $10.00, it's all I could afford, but it hit me, you don't have to be rich to help.

If you can afford just $5.00 or $10.00... donate it.
If your healthy enough to give blood... Give
If you have a spare bedroom... host a family.
If your not healthy enough to volunteer and have nothing to donate... Pray for them.

Watching things unfold on t.v. yesterdaybrought me to tears. We are donating money through our Church. Wish we could do more, but as has already been said everything helps. God help those poor people.Prayers don't cost a cent and they are a powerful tool.

Great post, but I want to add a caveat. Why does it have to be money? I've known a few Red Cross employees who made mucho dinero, and I'd prefer to give food or bottled water, so I know what I'm giving goes into the necessities rather than the half-million-dollar salary of the person who heads up the Red Cross (or other relief agencies). I'm not saying they don't deserve it or earn it, just that I don't want to pay it. But nowhere do I see a collection point for food, water or clothing, just for bucks (which, by the way, in spite of my feelings, I have given).

The Red Cross certainly doesn't want things other than cash. Another thing that worries me - they say to put "For Katrina Relief" on the check. I remember a few years ago there was a great big squabble because they weren't spending the money that came in for the purpose in which it was sent. The reason was it didn't say what it was for, so it went in the general fund. My thoughts are "if they are having the problem now, that is what the donations are for, not for some unknown future need". I don't know how much of each dollar goes for overhead and expenses. I noticed President Bush said to give to the Salvation Army and Red Cross. Each time it was mentioned it was in that order.

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